Gouden Carolus Classic

Deep red-brown. Slight beige head. Alcoholic toffeyish sweet aroma. The flavour is sweet caramel with a touch of smoked barley. Notes of chocolale and lemon.

Big tan fluffy head. Dark brown in color. Sweet malty, dark fruit aroma. Heavy in the mouthfeel. Assortment of flavors, toffee, coffee, chocolate and plums. Alcohol is subdued. Rich in the end with some lingering fruit notes and spicy texture. A nice flavorfull beer. Hate to see this beer might leave the phoenix area with no distributor.

Thin head, light coffee in colour. Body is very dark brown. Shows ok lacing. Nose is quite rich, candied, heavy, slightly ’stewed’ malts. Heavy weight palate with lots going on, good complexity. Starts out relatively light early in the palate with more heavy, slightly roasted malts but then transcends to some excellent licorice. People talk about licorice in shiraz but this beer shows much better (and obvious) flavour definition. Finishes just a touch short with some alcohol burn, this in itself is not a deal breaker.

Bottle. Dark brown/red beer withthin beige head. Choc and dark malts with some fruit and winey nose. Slightly sweet in mouth. Finish is ultimately very hoppy and dry with more choc/wine. Got better as the beer went on.

Light understated aroma. Hops, brown sugar, musty yeast, mild fruits. Pours a beautiful reddish-copper, carbonated, tan head that sticks around. Smokiness, sweet fruit up front. Mid-range body. Alcohol is well hidden. Sweetish aftertaste. Clean finish. Very enjoyable.

Bottle: Poured a dark color beer with a thick foamy brown head with excellent retention. Aroma of figs with sweet alcohol notes and typical Belgian yeast is easily identifiable and greatly enjoyable. Taste is quite rich with figs and plum sweetness with a thick body and warm alcohol note mix with lots of yeast. Very enjoyable though not my favourite from this fine brewery.

Bottle (330ml). Poured a murky orange-brown, some sediment, decent creamy tan head - leaves a pretty light tan lacing behind. Aroma oaky, resiny, with masses of musty, brown sugary, caramel malt, some sour wine, oil-based paint, various fruits and spices, some alcohol, even a hint of peat - very woody and mysterious. Taste is extremely malty, toffee/caramel, brown sugar; the alcohol asserts itself quickly, but settles into a decent balance with the malt and a medley of spices and fruits, also a bit leafy and woody. But this is *malt*, my friends - "suffer or leave". Mouthfeel is primarily alcholic and sticky, but it’s got decent body too, as well as enough carbonation to suit me. I’d rate this higher, but I was expecting more complexity based on the nose. Still highly recommended.

Dark brown with a small, tight head. Aroma was bready with a hint of banana. Fruity taste, very sweet, with coffee notes and just a touch of dryness. I found there was just a bit too much frothy carbonation in the mouthfeel. Otherwise a delightful strong ale.